Alfred RattrayAT 77 years old, and following a life dedicated to the service of his country, Government Senator Alfred Rattray is appropriately described as an elder statesman.
The eminent attorney-at-law has distinguished himself both in and out of the civil service which he joined in 1949. Since then he has worked as an accountant and legislature, and has served as Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States.
The respect he commands in the Senate is evident as he is often the one to clarify matters that seem to confound his peers. His vast knowledge of the law is often evident on these occasions.
A partner in the law firm Rattray, Patterson, Rattray since 1981, the Senator has served the country in many ways.
He was born in St. Ann on January 19, 1925 and educated at Porus Primary School, Excelsior High School, London School of Economics, and Lincolns Inn. His first assignment having entered the Civil Service in 1949 was as a clerk in the Department of Health and Income Tax 1949-51. Between 1951 and 1953 he served as accountant and manager of the Food Control Distribution Department and as Import Licencing Officer and Assistant Trade Administrator. He also served as Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Trade and Industry 1953-58, working principally on matters of industrial development, trade and commerce, mining and administration.
Mr. Rattray joined the law firm of Myers, Fletcher and Gordon as Associate in 1964; became Partner 1965; part-time lecturer, examiner and moderator in commercial law at the University of the West Indies for B.Sc. and for Degree students in Business Administration 1961-1975. He was appointed Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States and Ambassador Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS) 1975. He served as President of the General Assembly in 1979 and led Jamaica's delegation to the Annual General Assembly of the OAS on three occasions.
His legislative skills came to the fore in 1965 when he was the chief architect of the Companies Act and the Public Accountancy Act. A founder and architect of the Jamaica Stock-Exchange, Mr. Rattray was chairman of the Port Authority 1970-75; deputy chairman J.I.D.C 1966-75; President Public Accountancy Board 1970-75.
He has received numerous awards including the Kenneth Kaunda Award for Humanism; the Adolphe Roberts Award from the Jamaica Progressive League (USA); Order of Francisca de Miranda 1st Class (Venezuela).
Mr. Rattray, who is a member of the United Church of Jamaica, is married to Cynthia Louise Weston since 1951. They have two daughters.
